Last Thursday, a set of HeroClix miniatures seemingly gave away the "secret" villain of Marvel's the Avengers. It was a potential spoiler that is being confirmed today by a whole new slew of leaked plot details. Suffice it to say, if you wish to know no more about this movie, stop reading right now and go check out this new Portlandia video. As we will not only be offering MAJOR SPOILERS, we'll also be telling you the end of the movie.

How'd you like that in your headline?

Marvel's the Avengers script leaked ages ago, so its quite amazing that more hasn't been said about the story up until now. A source close to the production (i.e. The bootlegger who has been selling these stolen scripts out of his backpack near the shopping carts at the Food 4 Less) confirms that quite a bit of this Joss Whedon directed ensemble superhero adventure was filmed in secret. Some of these scenes do, in fact, have Hugo Weaving reprising his role as Red Skull from Captain America: The First Avenger.

How does he fit into the storyline? And what have they done with the Skrulls? Check out this laundry list of details below.

The Skrull: The aliens are now being called The Redacted and are a new version of The Skrulls. Fox still own Skrulls, so Marvel have changed them enough to not get sued. They're multicolored and are shape shifters.

Thanos: Thanos is in the movie. There were rumors some months ago that Loki would do business with Thanos and they're true. Thanos is tricked by Loki in the movie. Basically, Loki has been collecting Infinity Gems and the Infinity Gauntlet, but tricks Thanos in to thinking that the Infinity Gauntlet is the most powerful. In return, Thanos gives him The Redacted.

The Leviathan: The Leviathan is an alien serpent given to Loki by Thanos as a part of the deal.

Red Skull: Red Skull is in the movie. Loki meets him on his travels. They split the 6 Infinity Gems between them. Loki takes the Mind, Reality and Power gems and Red Skull takes the Soul, Time and Space gems.

Loki joins the Avengers: The Redacted discover that Loki tricked their master, and betray him. Hence Loki seemingly being on The Avengers side in some set photos.

If those aren't enough new details for you, a description of Marvel's the Avengers Lego sets continue the tradition of toys spoiling plot points. Here are the names of four upcoming sets, which clue you into some of the scenes we will see when the movie hits theaters this summer.

The age old tradition of Christmas Caroling gets a new spin in a super-cut video from Marvel fan James Covenant, who has painstakingly compiled footage from the entire Marvel movie universe. Both heroes and villains put aside their differences and join in for a rousing rendition of some of your holiday favorites. If you never thought you'd see the day when Loki and Thor would join together for some good old fashion December cheer, you were definitely wrong.

The entire gang is here, with footage compiled from Iron Man, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Thor, Marvel's The Avengers and more as Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, Black Widow, Pepper Potts and Nick Fury get in on the action. This compilation of scenes fully reconstructs the classic song 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas'. This is followed by Groot from Guardians of the Galaxy doing his own special rendition of Jingle Bells.

So, take a look as the Avengers ensemble assembles for this very merry occasion. You may not see too many door-to-door Christmas carolers in this day and age, but who needs that when you have Happy Hogan belting out a tune just for you? Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good Marvel night!

When Edward Norton signed on to play Bruce Banner in The Incredible Hulk, Marvel's second Phase One adventure, many fans assumed that he would return for The Avengers, which was teased at the end of Iron Man. Edward Norton eventually turned down the chance to reprise his role as the Green Machine, paving the way for Mark Ruffalo to step in. While discussing his new indie hit Birdman, which is currently playing in limited release, Edward Norton explained why he decided to step away from Hulk in a new interview with NPR.

"My feeling was that I experimented and experienced what I wanted to. I really, really enjoyed it. And yet, I looked at the balance of time in life that one spends not only making those sorts of films but then especially putting them out, and the obligations that rightly come with that. There were just a lot of things-I wanted more diversity. I sort of chose to continue on my path of having a diversity of experiences. Maybe on some unconscious level, I didn't want to have an association with one thing in any way degrade my effectiveness as an actor, in characters. I think you can sort of do anything once, but if you do it too many times, it can become a suit that's hard to take off, in other peoples' eyes. And if I had continued on with it, I wouldn't have made Moonrise Kingdom or The Grand Budapest Hotel or Birdman, because those all overlapped with [The Avengers]. And those were more the priority for me, but I continue to be a fan and I'm really, really happy I got to do it once."

It's worth noting that his response is much different than the reasoning Marvel's Kevin Feige gave for the studio going in another direction with Hulk, in a statement from 2010.

"We have made the decision to not bring Ed Norton back to portray the title role of Bruce Banner in The Avengers. Our decision is definitely not one based on monetary factors, but instead rooted in the need for an actor who embodies the creativity and collaborative spirit of our other talented cast members. The Avengers demands players who thrive working as part of an ensemble, as evidenced by Robert, Chris H, Chris E, Sam, Scarlett, and all of our talented casts. We are looking to announce a name actor who fulfills these requirements, and is passionate about the iconic role in the coming weeks."

That statement was met with a response from the actor's agent, Brian Swardstrom, who spoke about the negotiation process.

"This offensive statement from Kevin Feige at Marvel is a purposefully misleading, inappropriate attempt to paint our client in a negative light. Here are the facts: two months ago, Kevin called me and said he wanted Edward to reprise the role of Bruce Banner in The Avengers. He told me it would be his fantasy to bring Edward on stage with the rest of the cast at ComiCon and make it the event of the convention. When I said that Edward was definitely open to this idea, Kevin was very excited and we agreed that Edward should meet with Joss Whedon to discuss the project. Edward and Joss had a very good meeting (confirmed by Feige to me) at which Edward said he was enthusiastic at the prospect of being a part of the ensemble cast. Marvel subsequently made him a financial offer to be in the film and both sides started negotiating in good faith. This past Wednesday, after several weeks of civil, uncontentious discussions, but before we had come to terms on a deal, a representative from Marvel called to say they had decided to go in another direction with the part. This seemed to us to be a financial decision but, whatever the case, it is completely their prerogative, and we accepted their decision with no hard feelings."

Edward Norton himself responded with a statement of his own just a few days after Kevin Feige's announcement, and his agent's statement.

"As most of you know, I don't like to talk much about the business of making movies because it means a lot to me to protect the audience's fullest enjoyment of the 'magic' that films can have. But I am so appreciative of the outpouring of support from and of Hulk and The Avengers that feel it would be rood not to respond. So here it goes: It seems it won't work out for me to continue playing Bruce Banner for Marvel in The Avengers. I sincerely hoped it could happen and be great for everyone, but it hasn't turned out as i hoped. I know this is disappointing to many people and that makes me sad. But I am very sincerely grateful to Marvel for extending the offer and even more so for giving me the chance to be a part of the Hulk's long and excellent history. And I really can't thank the fans enough for how much enthusiasm you've sent my way about what Louis and I tried to do in our turn with the legend. It means a lot to me. I grew up with Banner and Hulk and have been a fan of every incarnation. I'm really proud, and very blessed, to have been one of them and will be thrilled to see him live on through other actors. Hulk is bigger than all of us, that's why we love him, right?"

Of course, Edward Norton's departure from The Avengers turned out just fine for all involved. Marvel's The Avengers, with Mark Ruffalo taking over the Hulk role, took in $1.5 billion worldwide in 2012, and Edward Norton has been thriving in critically-acclaimed indie roles such as the aforementioned Moonrise Kingdom or The Grand Budapest Hotel or Birdman. Regardless, would you have liked to see Edward Norton play Hulk in The Avengers and beyond? Or are you happy with the way things worked out? Chime in with your thoughts below.

Check out what the actor had to say to Joss Whedon, immediately following his first read through of the Marvel's The Avengers screenplay.

Joss, I am so excited I can hardly speak.

The first time I read it I grabbed at it like Charlie Bucket snatching for a golden ticket somewhere behind the chocolate in the wrapper of a Wonka Bar. I didn't know where to start. Like a classic actor I jumped in looking for LOKI on every page, jumping back and forth, reading words in no particular order, utterances imprinting themselves like flash-cuts of newspaper headlines in my mind: "real menace"; "field of obeisance"; "discontented, nothing is enough"; "his smile is nothing but a glimpse of his skull"; "Puny god".

... Thank you for writing me my Hans Gruber. But a Hans Gruber with super-magic powers. As played by James Mason... It's high operatic villainy alongside detached throwaway tongue-in-cheek; plus the "real menace" and his closely guarded suitcase of pain. It's grand and epic and majestic and poetic and lyrical and wicked and rich and badass and might possibly be the most gloriously fun part I've ever stared down the barrel of playing. It is just so juicy.

I love how throughout you continue to put Loki on some kind of pedestal of regal magnificence and then consistently tear him down. He gets battered, punched, blasted, side-swiped, roared at, sent tumbling on his back, and every time he gets back up smiling, wickedly, never for a second losing his eloquence, style, wit, self-aggrandizement or grandeur, and you never send him up or deny him his real intelligence.... That he loves to make an entrance; that he has a taste for the grand gesture, the big speech, the spectacle. I might be biased, but I do feel as though you have written me the coolest part.

... But really I'm just sending you a transatlantic shout-out and fist-bump, things that traditionally British actors probably don't do. It's epic.

Here is Joss Whedon's response to Tom Hiddleston:

Tom, this is one of those emails you keep forever. Thanks so much. It's more articulate (and possibly longer) than the script. I couldn't be more pleased at your reaction, but I'll also tell you I'm still working on it ... Thank you again. I'm so glad you're pleased. Absurd fun to ensue.

Best, (including uncharacteristic fist bump), joss.

Marvel's The Avengers is the third highest grossing movie of all time, and a sequel is coming next summer. Though Tom Hiddleston most likely won't be in it (that could change). The film has gone onto gross more than $1.5 billion worldwide, but success wasn't always imminent. Joss Whedon was tasked with rewriting a screenplay by The Incredible Hulk writer Zak Penn, with the initial draft being thrown completely out the window. After impressing Marvel with a 5-page treatment, he went to work on a new draft that went through several more iterations and collaborations with the cast.

When the mighty Marvel epic Thor makes its way onto Blu-ray, Blu-ray 3D, and DVD this September 13th, it will come with two all-new short films focused on Clark Gregg's S.H.E.I.L.D. Agent Phil Coulson, as he bridges the storylines between Thor, Iron Man 2, and the The Incredible Hulk leading into the release of The Avengers. Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant and Marvel One-Shot: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer... were produced exclusively for this upcoming Thor release, and you can watch a clip from Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant below.

Marvel One-Shot: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer... picks up after Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) leaves Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.) lab in Malibu during 'Iron Man 2,' and occurs before he arrives solo at the crater site in 'Thor.' Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant takes place sometime after the plots of 'Iron Man 2,' 'Thor,' and 'The Incredible Hulk,' but before 'Marvel's The Avengers.'

Both Marvel One-Shot: The Consultant and Marvel One-Shot: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer... will be available September 13, when the Thor Blu-ray and Thor DVD arrive in stores.

Last week, Marvel Studios unveiled the full details for Marvel's The Avengers' Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, and DVD release on September 25. One of the bonus features included is the short film Marvel One-Shot: Item 47. Today we have the first photo from this short, featuring star Lizzy Caplan, along with new plot details. Take a look at the photo and read on to learn more about the story.

The actress will play Claire alongside Jesse Bradford, who plays her boyfriend Benny. The story centers on the couple who stumble upon one of the discarded alien guns from the final battle scene in Marvel's The Avengers. The title refers to the actual gun itself, which leads the downtrodden couple to make some, "incredibly bad decisions." Maximiliano Hernández (Thor) and Titus Welliver are playing S.H.I.E.L.D. agents sent in to clean up the mess left behind by Benny and Claire. Here's what Marvel Studios co-president Louis D'Esposito had to say about the short, which he directed himself.

"The world is topsy-turvy now. There's been an alien invasion, and things are crazy. So when this gun ­literally fell into their lap, this is a sign: We're going to rob a few banks, we're going to buy a boat, we're going to the Caribbean, and all our problems will be solved."

Marvel One-Shot: Item 47 will be screened in its entirety at San Diego Comic-Con 2012. The studio is also developing new Marvel One-Shot scripts for Iron Man 3, Thor 2, and Captain America 2.

On September 25th, Marvel One Shot: Item 47 will debut with Marvel's The Avengers when it hits Blu-ray for the first time this fall. While dusting the convention center floors of Comic-Con with its pixie dust magic last night, Marvel actually previewed this latest short film for fans after engaging them in a scavenger hunt, and it proved to be the most ambitious of the Marvel One-Shot short films thus far.

Clocking in at roughly twelve minutes, the short was introduced by Iron Man himself, Robert Downey Jr., while sitting in the bathroom on the North Carolina set. He joked about filming his big "toilet escape" scene in a nod to director Shane Black 's earlier work scripting Lethal Weapon.

Lizzy Caplan and Jesse Bradford take the lead roles in Marvel One Shot: Item 47, starring as young couple Benny and Claire, and its no coincidence that their names hit close to Bonnie and Clyde. Traversing the crumbled rubble of New York City in the aftermath of an alien invasion, the two lovers happen up one of the Chitauri weapons left behind in the devastation. It is the 47th unclaimed item not yet retrieved by Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. And now it's in the hands of two people strapped and desperate for cash. What would you do in this situation? Well, Benny and Claire use this atom destroying laser gun to go on a bank-robbing spree. And the destroy a couple of small towns in the process.

Maximillano Hernandez returns as S.H.E.I.L.D. Agent Sitwell, while Titus Welliver makes is first appearance as Agent Blake. These two no-nonsense, hardened men are tasked with bringing in Benny and Clyde, which proves to be no easy task.

It is unclear if Benny and Claire are being set up for future Marvel films, but Agent Sitwell will be returning, most likely in Iron Man 3. There are not a lot of tie-ins to existing Marvel projects here, that are evident. We do learn why the Chitauri weapon is still functioning, which is a fun surprise I won't spoil at this time.

Be sure to check out the short when it arrives this September. We'll have more from the Iron Man 3 Comic-Con 2012 presentation later in the day.

Director Joss Whedon and his crew have demolished downtown Cleveland's East 9th Street during their shoot on The Avengers, and now the city itself if showing off some of the make-believe damage. You can check out these photos below, which depict a lot of building debris and smashed cars, just like what we saw coming from the Man of Steel set. Summer 2012 is going to be all about destruction!

The Avengers recently started shooting in Cleveland, which is being dressed up as New York City for the superhero ensemble. Earlier today, the production shot a scene on the corner of East 9th Avenue and Euclid Avenue, which features hundreds of extras running from an explosion. Click on the video player below to watch this scene unfold. In related The Avengers news, we have a new batch of photos featuring star Chris Evans on the set, which you can take a look at below the video.

The Avengers is currently shooting in Cleveland, Ohio, working towards a May 4, 2012 release date. The production has been bringing out the pyrotechnics as of late, as you can see in this new video and photos featuring the destruction in downtown Cleveland. Click on the video player below to watch this fiery scene unfold, and take a look at the photos below the video.

By request, these photos have been removed.

Earlier this month, executive producer Patricia Whitcher explained that they are shooting in Cleveland, which is doubling for New York city, because they couldn't get away with such big explosions in The Big Apple. Now we can see what she was talking about.

We just showed you some of the explosive elements of The Avengers' Cleveland shoot, and now we have a closer look at one of the cast members. A new crop of photos have emerged featuring Chris Evans in full costume as The First Avenger himself, Captain America. Click on these photos below to access our rapidly-growing gallery for The Avengers.

As we showed you close-ups yesterday of Chris Evans in full costume as Captain America on the downtown Cleveland set of The Avengers, no one had a clear understanding of what he was shooting. Now, new photos and video have emerged that clue us into what The Avengers are possibly fighting in the film. Debate below on what your theories about the 'device' and the motion capture suit below could represent.

The Avengers continued to shoot in Cleveland yesterday, bringing forth an immense battle sequence featuring numerous police officers and military soldiers as they fired on an unseen enemy, which appeared to be coming down from the sky. An industrious Cleveland resident captured this three-minute scene on video, which you can take a look at below, along with two photos from the set.

The Avengers continues to shoot in downtown Cleveland, which director Joss Whedon and his crew have made over to look like New York City. Today, new photos have emerged from the set which offer a look at, what is believed to be, the Skrulls small alien space craft. Check it out below, along with another beefy actor in motion-capture gear, thought to be one of the evil green menions of Loki.

Filming continues on The Avengers in Cleveland, and one of the scenes which was recently shot involves Chris Hemsworth as Thor and Chris Evans as Captain America teaming up to battle The Skrulls. We have a new on-set video featuring this battle along with photos from the scene. Click on the video player below to watch this scene unfold, and you can click on any of the photos to access our growing gallery from The Avengers.

More Cleveland set footage has come in from The Avengers, which finds Chris Hemsworth as Thor using his mighty Mjölnir hammer to flip a car while an injured Captain America (Chris Evans) lies on the ground beside him. Check out the latest action from this Joss Whedon directed superhero epic below.

Downtown Cleveland has shifted from posing as New York City to now standing in as Germany on the set of director Joss Whedon's upcoming Marvel epic The Avengers. Tom Hiddleston was spotted for the first time wearing his full Loki costume, and the stunt team pulled off an impressive car flip in the video that you see below.

The Avengers production continues in Cleveland, Ohio, which is doubling for New York City. A new video was captured from the set which features Chris Evans as Captain America doing battle with Tom Hiddleston's villainous character Loki in the middle of a large crowd. Take a look at the video below to watch this new scene unfold.

The Avengers is set to wrap its Cleveland leg of production, with director Joss Whedon and his crew moving out of the downtown area this week. The film, which brought quite a bit of excitement with it, has made a last impression on the town of Cleveland, with hundred of locals gathering to participate as extras, and some just coming along to watch the shoot.

Cleveland was turned into New York and Germany for the production. Co-producer Jeremy Latcham revealed that this half of the movie couldn't have gone any smoother, and that he was incredibly happy with the way things worked out. This is what he had to say.

"It was great to see (the locals) come out every day. They took tons of pictures and put them up on the Internet, which is just great. Cleveland has been amazing. We wanted a real street feeling to the scenes, and we got that."

Even though quite a bit of footage has been captured by the locals featuring various scenes that will be seen in the movie, not much about the plot is known at this point. Some of The Avengers were spotted fighting stunt actors in motion-capture suits, which are believed to be the Skrulls. For this portion of filming, Downtown's East Ninth Street was turned into a war zone.

It is also being reported that Scarlett Johansson shot secret scenes at an old warehouse on Ashland Road near Longfellow Avenue, off Cedar Road near the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks. Neither Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark) nor Mark Ruffalo were needed for this portion of the production, but Chris Hemsworth's Thor and Chris Evans's Captain America made their presence well known around town and in many fan videos that eventually found their way to the internet.

The Avengers has shifted production to New York City recently, and it seems they are shooting scenes involving a crashed Quinjet. Take a look at these photos below from some enterprising NYC residents to take a closer look at The Avengers' New York City set.

The Avengers have assembled in New York City! Director Joss Whedon is shooting his superhero ensemble in Central Park today, and we have several glimpses at The Avengers cast members between takes. Click on any of these new photos below, which feature cast members Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Robert Downey Jr., Stellan Skarsgård, and Tom Hiddleston, to access our growing gallery.

Director Joss Whedon and his crew are in full swing, shooting plenty of action on the New York City set of The Avengers this Labor Day weekend. Just in from earlier today are photos of Captain America (Chris Evans), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) in full superhero mode, along with a set video that shows citywide damage, as well as Steve Rogers enjoying a cup of coffee at a local diner. Check it all out below.

UPDATE: 11:20 AM PST Another New York resident has taken more shots from The Avengers set, which features Marvel legend Stan Lee shooting his cameo appearance alongside Chris Evans. Take a look at these photos below, plus a description of the scene.

By request, these photos have been removed.

"The scene features Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) sitting at a coffee shop with Lee sitting at a nearby table. Rogers is then joined by an older man, who some believe is a fellow-soldier from WWII."

Original Story:The Avengers shot on New York City's famous 42nd Avenue yesterday, inching closer to its May 4, 2012 release date. A brief video has been posted online, which shows an impressive explosion on the set. Click on the clip below to watch this explosion take place. You can also take a look at photos from the set below the video, which shows the aftermath of that scene, and actor Tom Hiddleston taking a break.

The Avengers continued to shoot in New York City throughout Labor Day weekend. While we've already seen copious photos from the set, we've now gotten our hands of some of the video that goes with it. Here, we see most of the cast, including Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, Scarlett Johansson as The Black Widow, Chris Evans as Steve Rogers, and Chris Hemsworth as Thor as they confront the Evil Loki (Tom Hiddleston). Check it out below, along with a couple of new set photos featuring Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans.

Back in October 2010, we reported that Marvel Studios delayed their comic book adaptation Runaways, which had Peter Sollett attached to direct from a screenplay by Drew Pearce. The screenwriter recently spoke about this long-delayed project, which was put on the back-burner because of Marvel's The Avengers. He also hopefully teased that it may become a Marvel Phase Three movie.

"We were really close to being made, and then this movie started to happen called The Avengers. Oddly, it pulled focus from the unheard-of brand Runaways, and it really did kind of consume the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's there, maybe it'll be a Phase Three movie, I really hope so, I'm really proud of it and I think it'll be a brilliant film, but I think it all depends what Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel, what his master plan is."

However, Shane Black, who directed Iron Man 3 from a script he co-wrote with Drew Pearce, reveals that the chances of Runaways becoming a Phase Three movie are actually quite slim.

"They make two [movies] a year, but that's still at least three years down the line [until they run out of films already in progress]."

The Runaways comic book series was launched in 2003 by creator Brian K. Vaughan, which followed a group of teenagers who learn that their parents are actually super villains. They run away from home together, discovering their own inherited abilities while trying to stop them from doing any further damage.

Earlier this week, we showed off some Iron Man 3 and Marvel's The Avengers deleted scene animatics, one of which may hold a key clue as to who will actually voice, and may even perform via motion capture, the main villain in The Avengers: Age of Ultron. This animatic shows JARVIS' darkside in a scene originally planned for Marvel's The Avengers, with Loki gleefully manipulating the virtual butler.

As you can see, JARVIS enjoys being a bad guy.

Its being circulated this morning that Paul Bettany, the voice of JARVIS in all of the Iron Man movies, will actually be playing Ultron. Which makes sense, as its being hinted that the villain is an accidental creation of Tony Stark, not Hank Pym as it was written in the comic books.

Unleash the Fanboy claims this bit of casting news came directly from a source at Disney. They reveal that JARVIS, or some form of his AI software, will become Ultron. This is what the source had to say.

" That's the plan so far from what I've heard. Obvious, isn't it?"

The source goes onto say that the actor has a new contract with Marvel Studios, which may hint that Paul Bettany is going to be performing Ultron via motion capture.

"He's returning, but I'm not sure if they're doing motion capture with him, or if they'll use someone else. Since he's only done voiceovers, the contract is new."

Unleash the Fanboy's source was unable to offer any more detailed information. This latest rumor opens up a whole lot of new questions regarding the story behind The Avengers: Age of Ultron. If Tony Stark is the surrogate father, will he have the same Oedipal conflict with Ultron that Hank Pym had in the comic books? Ultron ultimately wanted to kill Pym and steal his wife, The Wasp. Will Ultron now want to kill off Tony and have his way with Pepper Potts?

Its also being speculated that, since Ultron is the creator of Vision, who has a human visage, and the fact that Scarlet Witch is in this sequel, Paul Bettany will be playing Vision as well, sometime in the future. If anything, that certainly makes sense and falls in line with what we've seen so far in the Marvel cinematic universe. Don't worry, all will be revealed soon enough.

What do you think? Do you like the idea of JARVIS turning into Ultron? Do you like Paul Bettany for the role? Should he also play Vision? These are enough questions to keep any fanboy awake at night until the arrival of summer 2015.

Most big-budget blockbuster movies these days go through a pre-viz animatic phase, to map out certain sequences before shooting actually begins. Iron Man 3 and Marvel's The Avengers are no exceptions, although not all of the scenes end up making it into the final movie. Storyboard artist and animatic supervisor Federico D'Alessandro posted two unused animatics from Marvel's The Avengers, featuring an early version of the climactic New York City battle scene that features The Wasp, and a discarded confrontation between Loki and Iron Man. The artist also posted a pre-viz sequence during the Iron Man 3 finale where Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) are cornered by a number of soldiers, and The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) "checks out" in an interesting fashion.

Patton Oswalt guest stars on tomorrow night's episode of Parks and Recreation, "Article Two", which any fan of Star Wars and Marvel's The Avengers will surely want to watch. NBC has released an uncut 8-minute scene, where the actor plays a Pawnee citizen who tries to prevent a City Council vote by using a filibuster. In doing so, he breaks down his pitch for Star Wars: Episode VII, which includes crossovers with Marvel's The Avengers and several other franchises within the Marvel universe. What's even more impressive is this scene was completely improvised. Watch this impressive fanboy filibuster before tuning into Parks and Recreation Thursday, April 18 at 9 PM ET on NBC.

"I didn't think I was going to do the second one, but I had an idea for it, before I figured out the first one. I've seen plenty of movies that are the first part of a trilogy that never happened, and it's terrible. You don't save anything for the trip back. Having said that, though, I did sort of know, if they were going to come back, I know what's going to happen."

When asked how excited he was for the fans to see the upcoming Marvel Phase Two movies, such as next month's Iron Man 3, the director said he has been "behind the curtain" on all of them.

"I'm really excited. I've gotten to see everything. I've been behind the curtain on all this stuff, and (producer) Kevin Feige has a really clear vision, and it runs through all these movies. They really are what the next story should be. I'm actually consulting for Marvel in general, and some of that is protecting myself, but most of it is trying to make sure everything is as good as it can be.

Although roughly a third of Marvel's The Avengers is set in New York City, precious little was actually filmed there. ILM crew members photographed 7-miles of city streets from a variety of heights and at different times of day totaling 250,000 images. The crew then digitally recreated roughly 20 square blocks of mid-town Manhattan using a variety of techniques. Live action shoots were held primarily on sound stages in New Mexico and in the streets of Cleveland.

Marvel's The Avengers is up for the Visual Effects Oscar at the 85th Annual Academy Awards this weekend. The visual effects geniuses at Industrial Light and Magic have released a new behind-the-scenes featurette that gives viewers (and Oscar voters) a look at how they recreated 20 blocks of Manhattan. Go behind-the-scenes with ILM's visual artists and see what it took to create these amazing shots.

"We are happy to re-unite the Avengers cast to present on our show. Audiences who enjoyed the year's biggest box office hit will be excited to see these terrific actors back together again."

Downey Jr. has twice been nominated for an Oscar, for his leading role in Chaplin (1992) and for his supporting role in Tropic Thunder (2008).

Evans, who will be making his first Oscar show appearance, will be seen in the upcoming The Iceman.

Jackson was nominated in 1994 for his supporting role in Pulp Fiction. He can also be seen in this year's Best Picture nominee Django Unchained.

Renner was nominated for his leading role in 2009 Best Picture winner The Hurt Locker and for his supporting role in The Town (2010). Renner had roles in this year's The Bourne Legacy and "Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol (2011).

Ruffalo received his first nomination for his supporting role in 2010 Best Picture nominee The Kids Are All Right.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, February 24, at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and will be hosted by Seth MacFarlane live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

When the nominations for the 85th Annual Academy Awards were announced earlier this month, the superhero blockbuster Marvel's The Avengers was nominated for Best Visual Effects, as many expected. One of the nominees, visual effects supervisor Jeff White, was celebrating his first ever nomination, after working on blockbusters such as Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe in various capacities. He and his team at ILM were primarily responsible for the look of Mark Ruffalo's The Hulk, a character which drew heavy praise from fans and critics alike. Yesterday, I had the chance to speak with this new Oscar nominee about his work on Marvel's The Avengers, his first ever superhero movie. Here's what he had to say.

I know you don't really have much say in this, but during the Oscar ceremony, they always have a clip they show from each nominated movie. If you had your druthers, which clip would they show at the ceremony Marvel's The Avengers would they show?

Jeff White: We had a couple of great scenes where he had this great comedic interaction with the rest of the Avengers. I would prefer any Hulk clip they would want to show.

This isn't your first big-budget tentpole, but this is your first superhero movie. Were there any specific challenges with Marvel's The Avengers that you might not have been expecting coming in?

Jeff White: With Marvel's The Avengers, some of it was work that I was familiar with from other projects, but it was just so much larger in scope. On any one project, you usually have a big challenge to bite off, and we knew that was going to be the Hulk for this project. On top of that, we had so much virtual environment, in terms of creating New York City. We had to create the Hellicarrier, and all the set dressing that went on it. We had to create Stark Tower, all of the battle at the end of variety, in terms of the number of challenges we had on the project.

I believe Mark was the first to actually perform as Hulk live on the set, in motion-capture. Were you on set for that?

Jeff White: What our approach was with Mark was he had an initial session up at ILM, very early on in the process, where we captured a facial library for him. We did many, many rounds of capturing texture and skin to life cast, his teeth, dental molds. He was incredibly gracious throughout the entire process. I think where the synergy really started to happen was having him do the Hulk performance. He did it not only on set, in a motion-capture suit while everybody else got to wear superhero costumes (Laughs), which wasn't very fair, but we have an optical-based motion-capture system for on set. We were able to use two witness cameras and we developed a new geometry triangle pattern on our suits, out there. It's not flattering, but it really helped us track his motion. Once we had all the shots in the film picked out, that were going to have Hulk in them in the cut, he actually came back to ILM with (director) Joss Whedon, for another round of motion-capture, on our mo-cap stage, with dual helmet cams. Really, through every stage of it, he was just willing to give any amount of performance needed to help bring the character to life.

I've seen this new technology called SimulCam used on a couple of sets I have visited, where they can see the CGI-created characters on the monitor, on the set. Did you use that?

Jeff White: We did a session early on, where we had him re-targeted live to the Hulk, just to kind of give him a feel for what the character would be. On the set, we went a little more low-tech. We would have Mark up on platforms, so he was the right height. We'd also have a stand-in with a backpack, who could go to the right height. To get the look of the skin right (Laughs), we asked Marvel, and they agreed and it actually worked out really well, we actually had a bodybuilder on the set, shirtless, and painted green from the waist up.

Oh really?

Jeff White: Yeah. The reason we did it is, we typically do reference busts, but they're made out of silicone, and that doesn't accurately represent what skin looks like, under those lighting conditions. So, we had this bodybuilder out there, and he really got into it. He would do all this crazy flexing and stuff, and our anatomy guys were poring over that, for great ideas about what to incorporate into the Hulk. It all ended up working out pretty well.

I was curious about your time on the set. Were you on the set more than other projects in the past? I understand it wasn't a tremendously long shoot either, compared to a lot of these projects. It was 90 days, I believe.

Jeff White: It was, yeah. It was very fast. We were on set for the sequences that specifically involved us, which was a significant portion of the film. What made it challenging was, it was a very fast-moving production, but there were two units running. Some days we'd look at it and see there are Hulk shots on the second unit, and Hulk shots on the first unit. Figuring out how to cover all that work was a real challenge.

It hasn't really been touted as such, but for my money, I think this was the best post-converted 3D movie so far. When you first came on, was it always being conceived in 3D?

Jeff White: It wasn't actually conceived in 3D. I think they told Joss, 'Look, go make your movie, your story, and we'll figure out the 3D aspect of it.' They didn't want to burden the production, and what he was shooting with 3D, knowing we could get a really good conversion out of it later. As we were doing the visual effects work, we definitely composed some shots, some moments in 3D. That would be if something blows up, having things fly a little towards camera. They did a really phenomenal job converting the film. We did have, I want to say, 60 or 70 shots that we rendered in native 3D, and the rest were conversions from 2D finals.

Are you working on the Phase II movies at all? Is there anything else you're working on that you can talk about?

Jeff White: I'm not personally working on Phase II movies right now. I'm in pre-production on Transformers 4 right now.

I read a quote from Kevin Feige about how they're goal was to surpass the visuals in Transformers: Dark of the Moon in Marvel's The Avengers.

Jeff White: Yeah, it is interesting, with all these movies, trying to do a one-up of the previous version, when that was pretty amazing visually. That will be quite an undertaking.

Great. That's my time. Thanks so much, Jeff.

Jeff White: Thank you.

See if Jeff White can take home Oscar gold for his visual effects work in Marvel's The Avengers at the 85th Annual Academy Awards on Sunday, February 24.

"There is no question that it is part of the Marvel Universe. In fact, the story takes place after the battle for New York."

With that being said, how does Agent Coulson come into play? Did he actually survive? Does he have a twin brother? Did S.H.I.E.L.D. clone him? While Paul Lee wouldn't say specifically how Coulson fits into the story, he did say the series stands on its own, separating itself from the movie universe.

"This is S.H.I.E.L.D. They're following their own particular stories. There are characters in it, Coulson, who clearly come from Avengers. So it's part of the world, but we're going to be very, very careful that we don't tread on the toes of the features and build a whole new world. And that's what Joss Whedon does better than anybody else. He's built a world for us."

Production is scheduled to begin on the pilot next week. In related Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D. news, series creator Joss Whedon talked about how the series focuses on the agents who work on the fringe of these great adventures seen in the Marvel Studios movies.

"You've got to bring a bit of spectacle to it. It's got to be bigger than your average cop show. But at the end of the day, it's about the peripheral people. It's about the people on the edges of the grand adventures. The whole point of the show is that even with all these big things, the little things matter. So it's about people who don't have super powers. There will be some people with powers, there will be FX, there will be the spectacle of science-fiction storytelling, but all played on a very human, small level. That's the appeal of the thing."

After receiving an Oscar nomination for Visual Effects yesterday, Industrial Light & Magic has unleashed a "Behind the Magic" featurette for Joss Whedon's superhero extravaganza Marvel's The Avengers. This new behind-the-scenes video reel gives us an inside look at some of the most memorable scenes from the film. They also include a new stop motion animation segment hand crafted by the companies resident guru, Erik Dillinger at the beginning and end of the video. Take a look.

Industrial Light & Magic has revealed a new behind-the-scenes featurette that showcases the work they did on Joss Whedon's summer blockbuster Marvel's The Avengers. The video follows the visual effect team at ILM through the process of creating and finishing the New York City scene in the final chapter of the film. Watch as the crew breaks down the action-packed finale to the record breaking superhero mashup.

Marvel's The Avengers was the number one movie of 2012, with $623 million in domestic box office receipts, and more than $1.5 billion worldwide. As this year comes to a close, and Marvel moves onto its Phase II sequels, artist Andy Park has decided to share some of his concept art, offering a great look at Thanos, along with some really cool character design concepts. Check them out here, and then be sure to visit his website: clickHere

NYCC 2012 brought forth some great news for fans of Clark Gregg and his character Agent Coulson, who (SPOLIER! for the 4.3 of you who have yet to see the movie) seemingly died in Marvel's The Avengers. Marvel confirms that the actor will reprise the much beloved role for Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D., the new Marvel TV series set to air on ABC.

Clark Gregg made a surprise appearance at NYCC 2012 to talk about his role as Principal Coulson on Ultimate Spider-Man, and it was here that he broke the news in person, presenting a special video message from Marvel's Joss Whedon and Kevin Feige. It was also confirmed that Joss Whedon will be co-writing the pilot with Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen.

What was not confirmed was the timeline of Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series. It is not known if it will take place in the past, before Coulson's untimely death and the formation of The Avengers, or if it is taking place in the ongoing Marvel timeline, and is set to reveal in the pilot that Agent Coulson's so-called death was a ruse by Nick Fury to motivate his squabbling team of heroes (which has been speculated upon since the film's release this past summer). It is quite possible that we willl hear that Samuel L. Jackson is joining the ABC series in some capacity as well in the very near future.

Marvel's The Avengers earned a ridiculous $1.5 billion this summer season worldwide, so its no surprise that Joss Whedon's superhero mashup is killing the home video market.

The film topped the Nielsen VideoScan First Alert chart as well as the dedicated Blu-ray Disc sales chart for the week through September 30th. 72% of the unit sales came in the Blu-ray format while 23% were from the 3D Blu-ray combo pack, which is a record high for a new-release on disc in which both DVD and Blu-ray versions were equally available.

Other Marvel titles such as Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, Iron Man 2 and The Incredible Hulk also made their ways back up to the First Alert Top 25. They also returned to the Top 20 Blu-ray chart as well.

The end credits of Marvel's The Avengers featured a last-second glimpse at the super villain behind all the chaos, Thanos. Marvel Studios president and Marvel's The Avengers producer Kevin Feige revealed there certainly was a reason for the last-second reveal, and that the Mad Titan will be hanging around for awhile.

"Clearly, there's a purpose to us putting him in the end of that movie. We do have plans for him. I wouldn't say we ever feel the need to rush anything one way or the other. We succeeded in Phase One because we stuck to our guns and stuck to the plan. That plan took place over many, many years and it ultimately paid off. I see Phase Two unfolding in the same way of us taking our time, us doing what's right for each individual movie, while folding in elements that will not only build up to the culmination of Phase Two, but even Phase Three."

The producer wouldn't reveal specifically if Thanos is appearing in Guardians of the Galaxy or The Avengers 2. However, he did say they will probably recast the role, played briefly by Damion Poitier in the end-credit scene.

"I think we feel pretty free to recast. That was cast for literally that one shot. Depending on what the role requires from future movies, we'll go from there."

Kevin Feige also revealed how pleased he was that Thanos' reveal led to new fans delving deeper into the Marvel comic book world for more information on the character.

"Suddenly, you have a million people who had never heard of an Infinity Gauntlet or a Mad Titan learning those terms. I love that. I love when the experience goes beyond the movie theater and encourages people to look deeper into our universe. I was equally excited by the notion that people went out and tried shawarma for the first time."

Earlier this month in Los Angeles, the entire cast of Marvel's The Avengers assembled with their director, Joss Whedon, for a press conference to discuss the highly-anticipated ensemble which hits theaters May 4. We have been provided with the full video of this press conference featuring stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, and Samuel L. Jackson. Check it out.

Yesterday, we reported that Marvel Studios is bringing Marvel's The Avengers back to theaters nationwide for one week only, from August 31 to September 6. Today, the studio has released a TV spot touting the re-release, before this superhero ensemble arrives on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, and DVD September 25. One question still remains though: Will this limited theatrical engagement deliver on the speculation of new footage being shown after the credits? Only time (and the price of a ticket) will tell.

Labor Day weekend is upon us, and to celebrate, Walt Disney Pictures and Marvel Studios is bringing back the biggest movie of the summer to help drag the curtain closed on this past season at the box office.

Playing in 1705 theaters across the country for this one week encore, Marvel Studios announced the film's return on their Facebook page. There, they left this message.

"Don't forget to stay through the credits..."

It's possible that some new footage has been shot for this special return to theaters. It may be more with Thanos, though some are speculating that we may even get our first glimpse at Guardians of the Galaxy in the (CGI) flesh.

Marvel is playing quite coy though, so it's probably nothing more than an extended scene of the gang eating Schwarma and experiencing its after effects on the stomach.

Whatever it is, the ruse is sure to get some of you back in theaters this weekend. So what if the Marvel's The Avengers Blu-ray is just a few short weeks away from hitting shelves on September 25th? Nothing beats Marvel's The Avengers in 3D on the big screen!

Last month, we reported that ABC is looking to tap into the superhero realm, with a potential TV series set in the world of Marvel's The Avengers. Today, we have word that the network has ordered a pilot for S.H.I.E.L.D., a series that will supposedly center on the organization (Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate) that brought these superheroes together.

Marvel's The Avengers director Joss Whedon has signed on to write the pilot script with his brother Jed Whedon, and Maurissa Tancharoen (Dollhouse). Joss Whedon is also expected to direct the pilot episode, if his schedule permits.

Our initial report indicated that this live-action series may or may not feature the actual superheroes from Marvel's The Avengers, although it will be set in the same world. Setting this up as a S.H.I.E.L.D. series will likely introduce more of the inner-workings of this clandestine organization, although no plot details have been confirmed yet. It is possible for the various actors and heroes currently seen in the movie to make guest appearances, and for future comic book characters to be introduced.

It is not known at this time if Samuel L. Jackson, who plays S.H.I.E.L.D. leader Nick Fury, will be involved with the series, or if he will make an appearance in the pilot.

Joss Whedon, Jed Whedon, and Maurissa Tancharoen will executive produce the pilot alongside Marvel TV president Jeph Loeb and Jeffrey Bell. It is said that production will begin immediately, so stay tuned for any casting updates in the near future.

If this keeps up, there won't be any bonus content left to watch when Marvel's The Avengers arrives on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, and DVD September 25. Today, we have another excerpt from the 90-minute documentary Avengers Assemble, and a deleted scene featuring the alternate opening of this superhero extravaganza. Director Joss Whedon and other cast members discuss how Robert Downey Jr. stepped up as a leader on the set in this new featurette. Check out this behind-the-scenes video, along with another take on this blockbuster's opening moments.

Marvel Studios presents Marvel's The Avengers -the team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Tom Hiddleston, with Stellan Skarsgård and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, and directed by Joss Whedon, Marvel's The Avengers is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series The Avengers, first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since.

Marvel's The Avengers is presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures. The film was produced by Marvel Studios' President Kevin Feige and executive produced by Alan Fine, Jon Favreau, Stan Lee, Louis D'Esposito, Patricia Whitcher, Victoria Alonso and Jeremy Latcham. The story was by Zak Penn and Joss Whedon and the screenplay was by Joss Whedon.

Following the gag reel and extended scene earlier this week, Marvel Studios has released two featurettes for the summer blockbuster Marvel's The Avengers, debuting on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, and DVD September 25th. The first featurette is a 60-second excerpt of the 90-minute documentary "Building a Cinematic Universe," featuring director Joss Whedon, Tom Hiddleston, and Mark Ruffalo talking about the incomparable Samuel L. Jackson. The second video features cast and crew members discussing Chris Evans and Mark Ruffalo's performances as Captain America and Hulk. Learn more about this superhero ensemble before you pick it up on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, and DVD next month!

Marvel Studios has revealed a new gag reel and an extended scene from Marvel's The Avengers, which is arriving on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, and DVD September 25th. Watch some outtakes from the film and get a glimpse at Loki (Tom Hiddleston} and a brainwashed Clint Barton (Jeremy Renner) discussing Nick Fury's (Samuel L. Jackson) Team.

Marvel Studios has released a deleted scene from Marvel's The Avengers, arriving on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, and DVD September 25. As you may recall, actor Harry Dean Stanton had a small cameo in this superhero adventure, where he interacts with Mark Ruffalo after one of Bruce Banner's Hulk-out episodes. This extended sequence offers more from this fan-favorite moment in the film, with Harry Dean Stanton's security guard helpig Bruce back to the fight at Stark Tower.

Marvel Studios presents Marvel's The Avengers -the team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Tom Hiddleston, with Stellan Skarsgård and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, and directed by Joss Whedon, Marvel's The Avengers is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series The Avengers, first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since.

Marvel's The Avengers is presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures. The film was produced by Marvel Studios' President Kevin Feige and executive produced by Alan Fine, Jon Favreau, Stan Lee, Louis D'Esposito, Patricia Whitcher, Victoria Alonso and Jeremy Latcham. The story was by Zak Penn and Joss Whedon and the screenplay was by Joss Whedon.

Marvel's The Avengers has truly conquered the box office this summer, amassing a whopping $615 million at the domestic box office so far. Marvel Studios is also looking to possibly take this superhero team to the small screen, with an Avengers-themed TV show for ABC.

The project is in very early stages at this point, with only, "a kernel of an idea" so far. It is said that there wouldn't be a direct connection between the show and director Joss Whedon's blockbuster. While the series would be set in the same Marvel universe, and feature some of the same themes, it may not feature these superhero characters.

The Avengers can also be seen in animated form on Disney XD's The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes, and the upcoming Avengers Assemble.

Marvel Studios is also planning on making The Avengers 2 in 2015, after they make the stand-alone sequels Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, and Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Marvel Studios has released seven clips from Marvel's The Avengers, ahead of its release on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD, Digital and On-Demand platforms September 25. Included in these videos is the now-famous mid-credit scene, where the true villain is revealed. Relive some of your favorite moments from director Joss Whedon's superhero ensemble with these new videos. You can also read on for special features details on these upcoming sets.

Marvel Studios presents Marvel's The Avengers -the team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Tom Hiddleston, with Stellan Skarsgård and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, and directed by Joss Whedon, Marvel's The Avengers is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series The Avengers, first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since.

Marvel's The Avengers is presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures. The film was produced by Marvel Studios' President Kevin Feige and executive produced by Alan Fine, Jon Favreau, Stan Lee, Louis D'Esposito, Patricia Whitcher, Victoria Alonso and Jeremy Latcham. The story was by Zak Penn and Joss Whedon and the screenplay was by Joss Whedon.

Immerse yourself in every aspect of Marvel's elite Super Heroes with this limited-edition, 10-disc Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One - Avengers Assembled Collection. Complete with glowing Tesseract, this exclusive replica of Nick Fury's iconic briefcase includes stunning Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray presentations of Marvel's The Avengers; Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor, as well as Blu-ray versions of Iron Man; Iron Man 2 and The Incredible Hulk in exclusive collectible packaging. Plus, now that you possess the highest level of security clearance, you have been granted access to S.H.I.E.L.D.'s most confidential files, including a top-secret bonus disc filled never before seen, classified information. Also featuring exquisitely detailed art, prop reproductions and artifacts from the motion pictures, the must-own Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One - Avengers Assembled Collection will verify your status as the world's greatest authority on the Marvel Super Hero mythos!

Last month, Marvel Studios announced that the summer blockbuster Marvel's The Avengers will be released on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, and DVD starting September 25. One of the bonus features included in these sets is Second Screen, an app which you can use to download to your Apple device or PC and sync up with the Blu-ray for an enhanced viewing experience. The app is currently available to download at Apple, take a look then read on for more details regarding Second Screen!

Second Screen transforms the movie watching experience by allowing viewers to explore the story behind the film perfectly synched on a second device, like an iPad or laptop, without interrupting their enjoyment of the movie. By accessing the Second Screen companion application on their Internet-connected device, consumers are able to dive deeper into the film by engaging with key elements of the movie.

This groundbreaking new application allows users to interact with their Blu-ray player by simply starting the Blu-ray movie, and then syncing Second Screen to the film automatically by following the easy on-screen instructions. Once connected, they can explore interactive galleries, play games, and learn interesting facts about the scenes they're watching.

Features:

Enter the S.H.I.E.L.D. database on your second screen device accessing personnel files, comic book origins andexclusive interactive content with The Avengers Initiative: A Marvel SecondScreen Experience. By downloading the app, you can:

Become a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent and participate in the Item 47 Comic-Con experience either remotely or in the field.

Examine the confidential files of the Avengers including heroes,agents and villains.

Sync to the movie and explore exclusive behind-the-scenes interactive content such as visual effects labs where you can explore sequences layer by layer.

Seamlessly link the characters, stories, and scenes of the movieback to their comic book origins through the interactive Marvel digital reader.

View the major events of the Marvel Cinematic Universe - Phase 1 on the definitive timeline of all 6 movies.

Coming this fall, the third highest-grossing movie of all time and the #1 movie in the world, Marvel's The Avengers assembles as you've never seen it before on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD, Digital and On-Demand platforms on September 25, 2012. In anticipation of this release, Marvel is also launching an all-new App in July - "The Avengers Initiative: A Marvel Second Screen App" (available for the first time on iPhone) - that gives fans unprecedented access to exclusive content building up to the home entertainment release.

The announcement comes as Marvel's The Avengers crossed the incredible $600 million domestic box office threshold on June 26 - only the third film in history to do so. It has now grossed an estimated $1.44 billion globally.

Providing viewers with the ultimate in-home experience, the premium 4-Disc Blu-ray Combo Pack provides 5-unique ways to enjoy Marvel's The Avengers (on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, DVD, Digital Copy and Digital Download of "Avengers Assembled" Music from and inspired by the film) and brings to life the Super Hero team-up of a lifetime in a whole new dimension on Blu-ray hi-def with stunning visual effects, superior sound and unparalleled bonus content.

Extras include a gag reel, a first for a Marvel Studios film, the chance to hear from the cast and v on their experiences in bringing these larger than life characters to the big screen, a behind-the-scenes look at the groundbreaking visual effects and stunning cinematography, the creation of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Helicarrier, Soundgarden's "Live to Rise" Music Video, deleted scenes and more!

Also for the first time ever, fans will be able to enjoy even more of the Marvel Universe via the all-new "The Avengers Initiative: A Marvel Second Screen App." By downloading this onto a secondary device, consumers will be able to gain unprecedented access to exclusive content building up to the home entertainment release on September 25. Pieces will be unleashed bi- weekly in July & August and weekly in September leading up to a full immersive experience accompanying the film on Blu-ray. Content includes special access to the S.H.I.E.L.D. database, becoming a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, invitations to "special missions" either remotely or in the field, links to character profiles, stories and scenes, interactive Marvel digital reader comic books and more. App owners will receive push notifications whenever new content is uploaded and available for their viewing.

The full range of "Marvel's The Avengers" home entertainment offerings and bonus features are as follows:

Marvel Studios presents Marvel's The Avengers -the team up of a lifetime, featuring iconic Marvel Super Heroes Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury, Director of the international peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. Spanning the globe, a daring recruitment effort begins.

Starring Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner and Tom Hiddleston, with Stellan Skarsgård and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, and directed by Joss Whedon, Marvel's The Avengers is based on the ever-popular Marvel comic book series The Avengers, first published in 1963 and a comics institution ever since.

Marvel's The Avengers is presented by Marvel Studios in association with Paramount Pictures. The film was produced by Marvel Studios' President Kevin Feige and executive produced by Alan Fine, Jon Favreau, Stan Lee, Louis D'Esposito, Patricia Whitcher, Victoria Alonso and Jeremy Latcham. The story was by Zak Penn and Joss Whedon and the screenplay was by Joss Whedon.

Distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, the film smashed the industry record for the biggest domestic opening of all time with $207.4M, crossed the $1 billion global box office threshold in 19 days, and currently stands as the #3 global and domestic release of all time.

Last month, we reported that the record-breaking blockbuster Marvel's The Avengers will be released on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray, and DVD September 25. A few weeks later, we also reported that Marvel is rolling out the 10-disc Blu-ray set Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One - Avengers Assembled on September 25, featuring all of The Avengers' stand-alone movies. Today we have a Blu-ray trailer for Marvel's The Avengers and a featurette for Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One - Avengers Assembled. Take a look at these videos, and read on for special features details on both titles.

Marvel's The Avengers is expected to cross the $600 million domestic box office threshold today, becoming one of only three films in history ever to reach this milestone. The superhero film's global total is now an estimated $1,438.3 million, and it stands as the #3 film of all time globally and domestically.

Marvel's The Avengers opened in North America May 4 with a staggering $207.4 million - the biggest domestic debut of all time - and has been shattering domestic box office records ever since including the industry's all-time second weekend record with $103 million; fastest film to reach $200 million (3 days), $300 million (9 days), $400 million (14 days), and $500 million (23 days); and highest Saturday ($69.5 million) and Sunday ($57 million) totals. It is the #4 film of all time internationally with $838.9 million.

Actor Clark Gregg, who played Agent Coulson in Marvel's The Avengers, recently spoke out about his character's demise in the Marvel Studios blockbuster, and revealed that he likely won't come back as "The Vision," the android character from the Marvel comics.

"Vision is cool. But I would hate to be any AI life form. If I got to come back, I would need to still be somebody who could wisecrack, because my favorite part of the job was that if anybody was going to tease anybody about their diva superhero outfit or whatever, it would be me."

He also spoke about how he will ultimately miss playing the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, but he enjoyed what director Joss Whedon did with the character.

"I really love what Joss did with Agent Coulson in The Avengers. It seems like an idea that was in the cards, not only from Joss but from Marvel, in that you needed to ground the movie in some real emotion and stakes. I loved playing that guy, and I'll miss playing him, but I was glad to have that job."

Amazon has listed a new 10-disc limited edition six movie collector's set for the record setting superhero mash-up Marvel's The Avengers. An official date for the set has not been confirmed, but the set is tentatively being called Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One - Avengers Assembled. Take a look at what will be included!